External Event: Baby Flamingo Storytime

Come celebrate the zoo’s adorable baby flamingo with a special Baby Flamingo Storytime, presented by Palo Alto City Library and Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Enjoy flamingo-themed stories, songs, and see the animals that ......More

Come celebrate the zoo’s adorable baby flamingo with a special Baby Flamingo Storytime, presented by Palo Alto City Library and Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Enjoy flamingo-themed stories, songs, and see the animals that make the zoo so special. This storytime is suited for those older than 2 years, but all ages are welcome. Zoo admission required for entry. For tickets, visit: paloaltozoo.org/Visit

External Event: 3rd Thursday on California Ave

Experience live music, local eats, and shopping at 3rd Thursdays on California Avenue. Musicians will perform at different spots along the avenue, offering a chance to discover and support local businesses. Enjoy additional attractions such as photo booth and community......More

Experience live music, local eats, and shopping at 3rd Thursdays on California Avenue. Musicians will perform at different spots along the avenue, offering a chance to discover and support local businesses. Enjoy additional attractions such as photo booth and community art. Sponsored by the City of Palo Alto and the Chamber of Commerce, this free monthly music series occurs every third Thursday and all are welcome. Join us on Cal Ave and be part of the festivities! Learn More February 20  –  Let's Grow Together March 20 – Youth Views  April 17  –  Greening Up Cal Ave May 15 – We are Two-gether June 19  – Local Libations July 17 – Summer Fun & Games August 21 – Taste of Cal Ave September 18 – Let's Dance October 16 – Sustainability Fun Fair November 20 – Thankscaring December 18 – Winter Lights

CLOSED: Labor Day

All Palo Alto City libraries will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 1. Our eLibrary is open 24/7!

Family Storytime

Join Librarian Jennifer (and Rocky Raccoon) on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Children's Library! Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome!  BYOS (bring your ow......More

Join Librarian Jennifer (and Rocky Raccoon) on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Children's Library! Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome!  BYOS (bring your own scarf)! Some of our songs use scarves as props. Bring something scarf-like (any piece of fabric). Otherwise, you can always pretend! Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more stories, songs and rhymes, including a playlist of all of our favorite songs to sing!

Little Ones Storytime: Celebrate Labor Day!

Join Librarian Heidi on Wednesday mornings at 10:30AM for Little Ones Storytime at Children's Library. Storytime includes a variety of early literacy activities such as stories, songs, rhymes, and movement activities. Storytime is a fun and interactive experience fo......More

Join Librarian Heidi on Wednesday mornings at 10:30AM for Little Ones Storytime at Children's Library. Storytime includes a variety of early literacy activities such as stories, songs, rhymes, and movement activities. Storytime is a fun and interactive experience for the whole family that promotes the joys of reading and learning for all ages. This program is targeted to children under the age of two and their caregivers.

Line Dancing with Sandy and Kent

Join Sandy and Kent for a family-friendly line dancing class! Exercise your brain and body and enhance your balance while dancing to a va......More

Join Sandy and Kent for a family-friendly line dancing class! Exercise your brain and body and enhance your balance while dancing to a variety of international music. No partner needed and beginners welcome! You are welcome to practice before and after by checking out their special playlist for this class. This class will take place in the Mitchell Park Bowl. (In the event of rain, the class will move to the Midtown Room inside the Mitchell Park Library.) Sandy and Kent have taught line dancing throughout the Bay Area for ten years. Learn more about them on their YouTube channel. Registration is not required. If you register, you will get an email reminder for the program including a link to the class playlist to practice.

Family Storytime

Join Librarian Jennifer (and Rocky Raccoon) on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Children's Library! Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome!  BYOS (bring your ow......More

Join Librarian Jennifer (and Rocky Raccoon) on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Children's Library! Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome!  BYOS (bring your own scarf)! Some of our songs use scarves as props. Bring something scarf-like (any piece of fabric). Otherwise, you can always pretend! Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more stories, songs and rhymes, including a playlist of all of our favorite songs to sing!

Little Ones Storytime

Join Librarian Heidi on Wednesday mornings at 10:30AM for Little Ones Storytime at Children's Library. Storytime includes a variety of early literacy activities such as stories, songs, rhymes, and movement activities. Storytime is a fun and interactive experience fo......More

Join Librarian Heidi on Wednesday mornings at 10:30AM for Little Ones Storytime at Children's Library. Storytime includes a variety of early literacy activities such as stories, songs, rhymes, and movement activities. Storytime is a fun and interactive experience for the whole family that promotes the joys of reading and learning for all ages. This program is targeted to children under the age of two and their caregivers.

Family Craft: Leaf Suncatchers

Create a magical leaf suncatcher using scissors, tissue paper, contact paper, and a leaf template. Brighten your windows with colorful light and watch the sunlight shine through! Family Craft events are designed for children ages 4-11 and their adult companions to en......More

Create a magical leaf suncatcher using scissors, tissue paper, contact paper, and a leaf template. Brighten your windows with colorful light and watch the sunlight shine through! Family Craft events are designed for children ages 4-11 and their adult companions to enjoy together. Crafts will be available while supplies last, so please arrive on time. While registration isn’t required and doesn't guarantee a spot, it is recommended if you'd like a reminder about the event.

External Event: FOPAL Book Sale

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort......More

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort of all participants, masks are suggested and room occupancy will be lower than usual. Please visit fopal.org for more information. Saturday Hours: Bargain Room 9:30am – 4pm Children’s Room 10am – 4pm Main Room 11am – 4pm Sunday Hours: All Rooms 1pm – 4pm

Puppet Art Theater: Three Billy Goats Gruff!

Join us for a wonderful puppet show performance of the classic tale by the Puppet Art Theater Company!  This production starts with the classic race of the Tortoise and the Hare. Hare, super speedy; Tortoise, slow and steady. Who ......More

Join us for a wonderful puppet show performance of the classic tale by the Puppet Art Theater Company!  This production starts with the classic race of the Tortoise and the Hare. Hare, super speedy; Tortoise, slow and steady. Who will win? The conclusion of the race takes place on the “Troll Bridge” waking up the Grumpy Old Troll. Three Billy Goats must find a way to outwit the Troll and get across the bridge so they can enjoy the field of green, green grass. Little Billy, his older sister Brittany, and their father Bruno all try to trip-trap their way across the bridge. Will they make it? And stick around as we celebrate Children's Library Celebration from 3-5 PM! Our festivities will include a welcoming address, fun crafts, special storytime, a robot visit, refreshments & more! The Puppet Art Theater Company performs hundreds of live performances for family audiences each year. Their shows tour to theaters, festivals, and public events all over California.

Love Your Libraries: Children's Library Celebration!

Join us on Saturday, September 13, as we celebrate the re-opening of Children's Library, as part of our "Love Your Libraries" initiative to recognize our amazing branches around town! Libraries are at the heart of our community, providing opportunities to connect, get ......More

Join us on Saturday, September 13, as we celebrate the re-opening of Children's Library, as part of our "Love Your Libraries" initiative to recognize our amazing branches around town! Libraries are at the heart of our community, providing opportunities to connect, get inspired, and grow. Let’s show some love for the spaces that bring us all together! Our festivities will include a welcoming address, fun crafts, special storytime, a robot visit, refreshments & more! The Library will also be issuing commemorative library cards for this event! These special edition cards will be available while supplies last, and are available for new card signups, and for existing PACL cardholders to exchange their current cards.  More info coming soon! 

External Event: FOPAL Book Sale

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort......More

Don't miss this month's Friends of the Palo Alto Library Book Sale! There will be three rooms with over 70,000 books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, etc., new & gently used, all sorted, very reasonably priced! Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto libraries.  For the safety and comfort of all participants, masks are suggested and room occupancy will be lower than usual. Please visit fopal.org for more information. Saturday Hours: Bargain Room 9:30am – 4pm Children’s Room 10am – 4pm Main Room 11am – 4pm Sunday Hours: All Rooms 1pm – 4pm

Family Storytime

Join Librarian Jennifer (and Rocky Raccoon) on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Children's Library! Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome!  BYOS (bring your ow......More

Join Librarian Jennifer (and Rocky Raccoon) on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM for Family Storytime at Children's Library! Come sing, rhyme, and read stories with us! While this storytime will be geared towards those older than 2 years, all ages are welcome!  BYOS (bring your own scarf)! Some of our songs use scarves as props. Bring something scarf-like (any piece of fabric). Otherwise, you can always pretend! Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more stories, songs and rhymes, including a playlist of all of our favorite songs to sing!